Athletic Report
September 23, 2000

GREYHOUNDS DEFEAT #23 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
PORTALES, NM — Junior quarterback James Williams (Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) carried the ball 22 times for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns, leading Eastern New Mexico University to a 21-16 victory over the University of Central Oklahoma, Sept. 23 at Greyhound Stadium. The Lone Star Conference crossover win improved ENMU to 2-2 overall, including 1-1 in the overall LSC standings. UCO fell to 1-3 and 1-1 in the LSC.

Williams opened the scoring just 1:45 into the game on a 31-yard run toward the right sideline. The touchdown ended a 3-play, 80-yard drive that also included runs of 34 yards and 10 yards by running back Dennis Beard (Jr., Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Mil. Inst.). Mike Trimble (Jr., PK, Houston, TX/Adams State) kicked the extra point, giving ENMU a 7-0 lead.

The score remained 7-0 into the second quarter, then the Bronchos tied the game. UCO drove 65 yards on 12 plays, with running back Greg Briley completing the drive with a 5-yard run. Evan Luttrell’s PAT made the score 7-7 with 7:45 left in the first half.

ENMU pulled in front, 14-7, late in the half on Williams’ second touchdown. The Hounds drove from their own 39-yard line to the end zone in 11 plays, running 6:50 off the clock. Williams carried the ball 9 times for 48 yards on the drive, ultimately scoring the touchdown on a 3-yard run with 0:55 left in the half. Trimble added the extra point.

Central Oklahoma cut the deficit to 14-10 with a field goal at the 8:01 mark of the third quarter. Luttrell’s 34-yard kick concluded a 12-play drive for the Bronchos. UCO had third- and-one at the ENMU 2-yard line, but a dead ball personal foul moved the Bronchos back to the 17-yard line. Following an incomplete pass, Luttrell kicked the field goal.

Later in the third quarter, ENMU scored what proved to be the clinching touchdown. The Greyhounds took over at their own 42-yard line, then used just 7 plays to score. Running back T.J. Sheppard (Jr., Compton, CA/East Los Angeles C.C.) recorded the touchdown on on a 3rd-and-3 option play from the UCO 8-yard line. Trimble’s conversion kick gave the Hounds a 21-10 lead with 1:26 left in the quarter.

ENMU’s third quarter drive featured two long carries by Beard. He dashed 23 yards on the second play of the drive, then rushed for 25 yards two plays later. Beard finished the game with 10 carries for 108 yards.

Central Oklahoma scored one touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Bronchos were unable to score a second TD that would have given them the lead. ENMU did not score in the final period, but several big plays on defense preserved the Hounds’ lead.

Briley scored for UCO on a 3-yard run with 10:40 remaining in the game. His TD run capped a lengthy 12-play, 82-yard drive that took 5:49 off the clock. The last four plays of the drive were all runs by Briley, as the Bronchos covered the final 13 yards to the end zone. Luttrell’s conversion kick went wide of the goal post, leaving ENMU in front, 21-16.

UCO got the ball back with 7:22 to go at their own 35-yard line following a punt. The Bronchos eventually reached the ENMU 10-yard line on a 42-yard catch by D.D. Carter. On first-and-goal, Eric Gooden rushed for 3 yards. He added 2 yards on second down. On third down, Gooden carried again, but was dropped for a 4-yard loss by Larry Varnado (Jr., LB, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) and Tonmar Johnson (Sr., CB, Vallejo, CA/Henderson State Univ.). Brett Manning threw on fourth down, but his pass was picked off by Justin Hibbler (So., CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.) at the 4-yard line.

The Hounds took over with 3:38 remaining, but failed to gain a first down. On fourth down, freshman punter Steven Todd (Lubbock, TX/Frenship H.S.) kicked a 44-yard punt that was returned just one yard to the UCO 45.

Manning started UCO’s next drive with three incomplete passes, but hit Carter with an 11-yard toss on fourth down. Manning threw an incomplete pass on the next play, then Briley ran 4 yards on second down. On third down, Manning’s pass to Don Harris was dropped at the goal line, as two ENMU players were about to hit the receiver. Manning’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete, and the Greyhounds ran out the final 1:01 on offense.

Williams and Beard led the ENMU offense to 267 rushing yards on 43 carries, an average of 6.2 yards per rush. Williams threw the ball just 5 times, but completed 3 passes for 23 yards. Cale Sanders (So., WR, Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) caught 2 passes for 19 yards.

UCO also mounted a strong running attack. Gooden finished the game with 20 carries for 112 yards. Briley added 24 carries for 101 yards and 2 TDs. Manning was 8 of 26 passing, earning 115 yards. Harris led the Bronchos with 3 catches for 41 yards.

Senior free safety Michael Garvin (Salinas, CA/Hartnell C.C.) recorded 17 total tackles for ENMU. Garvin made 12 solo stops. Marcus Rivers (Jr., DB, Vallejo, CA/Solano C.C.) made 14 total tackles, while Garett Williams (Sr., LB, Monahans, TX/Monahans H.S.) and Varnado each provided 12 tackles. Kelly Heathington led UCO with 15 total tackles.

ENMU will complete its 3-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 30, when the Greyhounds host Abilene Christian University in the Homecoming Game. Kickoff for the LSC South contest is set for 2:00 p.m. (MST) at Greyhound Stadium.